NJ family frustrated trying to prove man's birth

NEW JERSEY (WTXF) - Most of us wouldn't think of leaving the house without some kind of official photo identification in our wallet or purse. A driver's license maybe even a passport, but not everyone has such an ID.

FOX 29's Bruce Gordon has a story of frustration from South Jersey.

63-year-old Adolph Vautier gets his exercise walking the dogs, Daisy Mae and Rascal, around the Delanco, New Jersey home where he lives under the care of his cousins since the death of his parents. "Buddy" as he's called is mentally challenged.

Buddy was born July 22, 1954 at West Jersey Hospital in Camden, which is now Virtua. His cousins Glenn and Stephanie Latshaw say officials there have been unable to find for them birth records from way back when.
A trip to the State Office of Vital Statistics in Trenton got them a document: "NO RECORD" on file for the birth of an Adolph Vautier.

The Latshaws need Buddy's birth certificate to get other forms of official photo identification. Without a good photo ID, trips to the doctor's office are becoming more of a challenge and long-distance trips by plane or train are out of the question.

Buddy has a social security number but no card. he Latshaws say the bureaucrats they've dealt with can't or won't use that number to verify his birth. By the way, he's been receiving benefit checks since he was a child.